LG's curved G-Flex phone takes a bow in leaked press renders

Fresh off the heels of Samsung's new Gumby-y handset, the Galaxy Round, we've gotten our purported first look of the curved G-Flex phone from LG that is widely expected to be unveiled next month.

It should be noted that the leaked images are not photos of the phone, but rather computer renderings, so make of that what you will. CNET and Engadget have each reported that unnamed sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the authenticity of the images. Both outlets are reporting that the phone will sport a six-inch display and will indeed make its debut next month.

Despite the phone's name, and the fact that LG has promised "bendable and unbreakable" displays at some point, the G-Flex's glass display curve is reportedly expected to be static and unmoving. True mass-produced bendable screens are probably still years down the line. The fact that the leaked images all feature the phone bent in the same angle and orientation would seem to confirm as much.

If the images are indeed legit, LG has opted to curve its device vertically, rather than horizontally as is the case with the Galaxy Round. Either way you bend it, the new static curved design probably won't offer too much in the way of an immersive experience that one would get with giant curved TVs. Instead, the new, arcing form factors open the doors for new designs, as well as new forms of UI--as we've seen with the Galaxy Round's push-down "roll effect."

It has yet to be established if the static curved form factor will be a hit with consumers, but it looks like the big manufacturers want to at least give it a shot. Samsung's Galaxy Round will be available later this month in Korea, with no official word of the global availability. We'll reportedly find out more about the G-Flex over the coming weeks.